Celebration for Annalise Murphy's return home ‘to honour a hero’

Yachting Olympic silver medallist, Annalise Murphy, will arrive back to a huge homecoming in Dun Laoghaire next week.

Annalise will be welcomed back to the National Yacht Club and the People’s Park at 6pm, next Thursday.

After four years of Olympic disappointment, missing out on a medal in London, when she finished fourth, to claim silver this time around, after the women’s laser radial final race, left the sailor “shell-shocked”.

She will be greeted by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown cathaoirleach, Cormac Devlin, and local dignitaries.

Cathaoirleach Devlin last night said: ”Her dedication and passion for sailing has paid off and we are immensely proud of her achievements to date.

“I believe it is only right and proper that members of the public, and members of her sailing club, the National Yacht Club, Dún Laoghaire, will come together to host a celebration in honour of our Olympic hero’s homecoming.”

He said Dún Laoghaire, as a costal town, had a long sailing tradition and Annalise’s success, the first for Ireland in sailing in 36 years, was one they would cherish for generations to come.

“Annalise is a role model for so many other young sports enthusiasts, especially young women, who will be inspired to go on and achieve what she has done for Ireland in Rio,” Mr Devlin said.

There might even be free ice creams for everyone, as tentative talks are being held with the famous Teddy’s Ice Cream owners, and the local authority, in a bid to have cones for everyone who turns up to the homecoming.

Meanwhile, Team Ireland will arrive home from Rio on Wednesday next, at 5.10pm, at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, on Flight LH 980. A spokeswoman said the squad would include athletes from boxing, sailing, hockey, and other sports.

Heroic rowing brothers, Gary and Paul O’Donovan, are expected to be brought through Skibbereen on an open-top bus at 7pm on August 29, finishing at the Old Mart in the town centre.